Our Best French Baked Goods

Bring the art of pâtisserie and boulangerie to your kitchen. In celebration of France’s Bastille Day on July 14, we have the Francophile’s guide to the quintessential gateaux, puff pastry, and crumbly cookies classic to France. From delicate macarons to mouthwatering mille feuille to swoon-worthy clafoutis, these baked goods embody the subtle sophistication and timeless appeal of French baking.

1. Frosé Bombe Glacée

Frosé. All. Day. We made sorbet with your favorite rose-hued sipper and let it take center stage in our take on la bombe glacée, a classic frozen French dessert that resembles a cannonball (hence the name). We brush the Citrus Genoise layers in rosé once they’re out of the oven, which not only strengthens the overall flavor but keeps them extra tender even when frozen. Get more cold and dreamy ice-cream inspired desserts in our July/August issue. 

2. French Apple-Almond Cake

From the dense, custardy bottom to the crisp top layer, almond flour amplifies the textures that are characteristic of this classic French Apple-Almond Cake. Additional egg yolks in the cake’s base also boost its custard-like consistency. 

3. Le Fraisier French Strawberry Cake 

The name for this classic comes from fraise (French for strawberry), and celebrates the sweetness of French strawberries. It typically starts with a sponge cake (or Génoise), split in half, doused with simple syrup, filled with cream and almond paste, and garnished with sliced strawberries. Here’s our simplified take on the classic.

4. Strawberry, Pistachio, and Rose Profiteroles 

Rose water and strawberries give a spring twist to these light and airy cream-filled pastries.

5. Palmiers 

Palmiers might just be the perfect cookie: crisp, buttery layers of puff pastry encased in caramelized sugar. It’s hard to improve on something so classically perfect, but we think our version with cardamom, pecans, and vanilla bean comes pretty close.

6. Macarons 

A glorious combination of crunch and cream, these delicate meringue sandwiches shine in the pastry case spotlight—but simply don’t survive the rigors of shipping. Here’s our easy-enough-for-beginners recipe for creating these pastel wonders at home. We highly recommend using gram measurements for this recipe. Precision is key for the best macaron outcome.